Joy to the World, The Light Is Born! Merry Yule!

Brightener of Darkness, hail!
Keeper of Clearness, Opener of the Depths.
Presents of lots are arising,
Winter wonders, white snows’ fall.
Joyful be the guts inside us,
Open broad the guesting door,
Knowledge waken in abundance,
Heat our beings to the core.
Caitlín Matthews, Celtic Devotional: Each day Prayers and Blessings

Ring the bells of pleasure and blessings! Now we be a part of collectively as our ancestors of outdated did, to rejoice one of many happiest days within the Pagan calendar!

That is the time of the Promise fulfilled, the blessings of recent beginnings. As our intention has mentioned, as we lit our Solar Wheel, we’re the bringers of the daybreak, the sunshine bearers of hope. We’ve got invoked the irrepressible dawning of therapeutic, grace, and rebirth. (Extra about tonight’s ceremony beneath).

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the yr within the Northern Hemisphere.

The exact second of the 2024 Solstice arrives Dec. 21, at 4:20am Jap time/09:20 UTC.

At this second, the Solar will transfer into the signal of Capricorn (by tropical astrology reckoning). Winter arrives because the Solar reaches the 270° level on the zodiac wheel. Thus begins the return in direction of the 0° level, which shall be reached at Spring Equinox.

Winter Solstice, which is also called Xmas, Xmas Evening or Julblot, Winter Ceremony, Midwinter, and the Druids’ Alban Arthan, marks the longest night time of the yr. After a pause — the phrase “solstice” comes from the Latin that means “Solar standing nonetheless” —  the times will start to develop longer and the dead nights will lower. We could not discover for some time, however by Imbolc, in six weeks, it will likely be apparent, and but extra trigger for celebration.

By the best way — finest needs to all our pals who dwell beneath the Equator! You’re celebrating your Summer season Solstice this merry day! Completely happy Litha to you!

Historical Day of Energy Across the World

That is presumably the most common and oldest recognized holy day of all humanity. There are written data 4,000 years outdated describing Mesopotamian rites carried out to rejoice the top of the darkening. And there are even older historical buildings world wide that have been designed to mark the Solar’s placement on today.

As an illustration, Sí an Bhrú, recognized in English as Newgrange, is a ravishing Neolithic website in Eire. It’s a large round stone construction, estimated to be 5,200 years outdated. It’s centuries older than Stonehenge, and older than the Egyptian pyramids.

It was constructed to obtain a shaft of daylight deep into its central chamber at daybreak on Winter Solstice (proven in yesterday’s blog). Round 235,000 folks go to Newgrange and its neighboring passage graves at Knowth and Dowth annually.

Tons of of different prehistoric buildings all through the world are oriented to the solstices and the equinoxes. The sphere of archaeoastronomy research such sacred websites within the Americas, Asia, Indonesia, and the Center East.

Current analysis into the medieval Nice Zimbabwe in sub-Saharan Africa (also called the “African Stonehenge”) signifies an identical function. In North America, some of the well-known such websites is the Solar Dagger of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, constructed a thousand years in the past by the traditional folks recognized by the Hopi tribes because the Hisatsinom, whose descendants are at the moment’s Pueblo folks.

In a lot of Asia, this observance is called Dongzh. Based on the late astrologer Jon Cainer, in Japan, that is Toji. “All over the world,” he writes, “in very other ways, billions of us mark the second of the Solstice, the turning level of the Solar.

“Related deities and festivals embody Beiwe (Scandinavia), Chaomos (Pakistan), Goru (Mali), Junkanoo (West Africa), Brumalia (Greece), Lucia (Scandinavia), Meán Geimhridh (Celtic international locations), Modranicht (Germany), Rozhanitsa (Russia), Shab-e Chelleh (Iran), Şeva Zistanê (Kurdish), Soyal (Hopi Indians), We Tripantu (Southern Chile) and Ziemassvetki (Latvia).”

Some even speculate that Hanukkah, the Jewish competition of lights, was additionally initially a Solstice competition. Xmas and Saturnalia undoubtedly have been. And Christmas nonetheless is!

The Winter Solstice sabbat is joyfully celebrated by Pagans and Witches all through the world, in addition to numerous rural and indigenous individuals who depend upon the rhythms of the seasons.

On this longest night time of the yr, on the brink of Winter, we rejoice the rebirth of the divine Solar Youngster, the Oak King, the Giver of Life.

The Ultimate Candle of Our Solstice Solar Wheel

Tonight at nightfall, or, for those who want, in the meanwhile of Solstice, we are going to full our advent Sun Wheel magical working, until you’re observing Christmas. If that’s the case, you’ll gentle (or rekindle) your fourth candle tomorrow (Sunday the twenty second) after which the ultimate one on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

However now, collect with all who’re close to and pricey to you, together with all of us — the 1000’s of different members on this ceremony world wide. For those who like, you might also invite the one you love lifeless, as this pause of the Solar is a holy time of energy — the veils between the worlds open.

That is the vacancy, the standing nonetheless of the Solar, the area between breaths, the place Magic occurs. Enter this darkish Thriller along with your shining candle, your individual sensible spirit.

Name as soon as extra to the Guardians and Parts of East/Air, South/Fireplace, West/Water, and North/Earth. Or in case you have assigned different meanings for the 4 peripheral candles, in fact, invoke these energies.

Lastly, the time has come to gentle the ultimate Candle of Middle, which might be for Spirit, the Aethers, the Cauldron, or Thriller. Or you could want it to easily signify Centering, Rebirth, or Hope.

Kindle the flame of Middle and name upon all your Divine Ones, probably the most holy Ones to whom you’re devoted.

It doesn’t matter what the unsure future could maintain in retailer, with our gentle, our prayers, and our intention, we have now joined collectively in love.

As darkish as our world could also be proper now, our Grandmother Gaia teaches us Her everlasting reality: daily, little by little, irrespective of how carefully despair could nibble at our heels, irrespective of how fierce the raging, approaching storms of Winter could show, the Mild has not died.

Watch now, and maintain quick. For we, as men and women and households of spirit, have woven collectively a mighty alignment to that brilliant promise. On this night time we’re given the traditional reminder of Life’s insurmountable triumph.

Even our pals within the Southern Hemisphere have helped assist this highly effective world prayer and magic. Collectively allow us to all bid welcome to the Youngster of Mild.

Tonight, communicate of your coronary heart’s best want. Keep in mind that that is the most magical second when needs do come true. As you’ve got spoken it, so it shall be accomplished.

Our candles now burn brightly and illuminate the promise of the times forward. Let the shadows and mourning now start to disperse, in concord with probably the most historical rhythms of the Earth’s knowledge.

The Circle is full and the Middle is ablaze. The Divine Delivery is right here! All existence celebrates this miracle.

Ring your Solstice bells!

Write down on paper all you want to say farewell ceaselessly to and toss it, alongside along with your outdated Xmas greenery from final yr, into your blazing fireplace.

Go outdoors and shout, drum, gentle your bonfires, give choices and due to the Beloved Ones!

Make merry and rejoice! We’ve got united collectively throughout the worlds, throughout time, every with each other, and with Love Herself.

Thanks to every one who’ve shared your magic, good power, and loving prayers in our rites this very particular twentieth anniversary of our world Solar Wreath ceremony.

Could the Lord and the Woman deliver you renewal, mirth, and gladness!

Blessed be!